After Dermabrasion

WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER SURGERY?

There will be a mild to moderate amount of discomfort associated with the surgery. This should be easily controlled with oral medications. Tylenol with codeine (or equivalent if allergy to codeine exists) is generally always sufficient for pain control. Occasionally using a medication to help you sleep may be useful for the first 7 to 10 days after the surgery. After the surgery pain should really not be a major problem for you. As long as the resurfaced area is not allowed to dry out you should experience only slight pain, if at all.

The discomfort and pain should begin to significantly decrease after 72 hours. A significant increase in pain after this period should prompt you to call the office. Severe pain is rare; if you experience this, please contact us immediately.

Bruising and swelling are to be expected after the surgery. Note that your eyelids may be swollen if the forehead or cheeks have been dermabraded. These symptoms will peak within the first 36 to 48 hours after surgery, and will gradually subside over the next 7 to 10 days. To minimize the swelling, you should sleep with your head elevated for 3 weeks after the surgery.

It is not unusual to have some slightly blood tinged drainage for the first few days after surgery. This will most often significantly improve or disappear by the end of the first week.

Prior to surgery, some patients should be on Retin-A, a glycolic acid skin regimen and a vitamin C skin preparation for a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks.Dr. Ducicwill inform you if this is required in your case. This treatment plan may be important in optimally preparing the skin of some patients prior to surgery, in order to provide the best result possible. In addition, dark haired, dark eyed patients may also be placed on a pigment gel to help redistribute and stabilize the pigment cells of the skin. These medications may all be purchased at the office. Information, as to how and at what times to use the different preparations, will be provided to you.

It is of utmost importance to tellDr. Ducicahead of time if you have ever been on Accutane, received radiation therapy to the head or neck, taken steroids or immunosuppressive agents.

Immunosuppressed patients (HIV positive, chemotherapy, AIDS, etc) and patients with certain autoimmune disorders are not good candidates for this procedure as the risks of poor healing and infection leading to permanent scarring are much higher. It is mandatory that you informDr. Ducicif you have any of these conditions before any dermabrasion.

CALL THE OFFICE PROMPTLY IF YOU NOTICE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

development of a temperature elevation exceeding 100.0 degrees.

significant pain which is not easily relieved by taking your prescribed medication.

development of cold sores, or small blisters on the resurfaced skin.

If any of the above should occur after regular office hours, do not hesitate to reach us through the answering service. For whatever reason, if you notice one of the above changes and cannot reach us at our office or through the answering service, present yourself to the emergency department for evaluation.

HOW DO I CARE FOR MYSELF AFTER SURGERY?

Make arrangements to have someone drive you to, and from, your surgery.

Having someone stay with you on at least the first night after your surgery is highly recommended.

Be sure to fill your prescriptions before your surgery since you have to start taking some of the medications prior to the procedure. You will receive an antibiotic, pain pills and hydrocortisone cream. If you wish to have a few sleeping pills as well, you should askDr. Ducicto give you a prescription. An antiviral will also be prescribed in certain circumstances.

You should also purchase the following supplies prior to surgery:

a fresh 2 liter bottle of white vinegar.

a generous supply of gauze sponges from the local drug store.

Benadryl tablets (25 mg). These are available without a prescription.

a large container of vaseline.

Arrive for your surgery in loose, comfortable clothing. Your top should button or zip rather than pull over your head.

Use the medications only as prescribed by the office. Start taking the antiviral (if prescribed) and antibiotic on the night before your surgery. After the surgery, try to avoid taking the pills on an empty stomach or at the same time, in order to avoid stomach upset.

Do not take any aspirin or any anti-inflammatory compounds for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after your surgery unless you first discuss it with your surgeon. If you have only mild discomfort, you may use plain Tylenol (acetaminophen). Otherwise, you may use the pain pills that were prescribed for you.

If you are a smoker, you should not smoke for at least 2 weeks prior to surgery and 3 weeks after surgery. Smoking and chewing tobacco inhibit your circulation and can significantly compromise your surgical outcome.

You should thoroughly wash your hair with an antibacterial shampoo (such as hibicleanse) or soap (available in drug stores) the night before surgery. You may also be given a prescription for antibiotic ointment before surgery. If so, apply a small amount to the inside of the nose three times a day for three days prior to surgery.

After thedermabrasion, the treated areas will be covered with ointment. You may notice some clear, blood tinged or yellow oozing from these areas for up to 10 days after the surgery. This is normal and expected.

It is critically important to keep the treated areas moist at all times. They should never be allowed to dry and form crusts.

For the first 24 hours after the surgery, simply keep reapplying ointment (vaseline or other ointment as prescribed by the office) to keep the treated areas moist. It is not necessary to start soaks until after the first 24 hours have elapsed. Now, using the gauze sponges, soak the treated areas with a solution of 4 tablespoons of white vinegar mixed with 1 cup of clean, cool water. Do the soaks for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. You should find the soaks to be soothing. If the solution is irritating for some reason, the white vinegar may be diluted by half (two tablespoons of vinegar to one cup of water). The soaks should be repeated 6 times per day, until the skin is fully epithelialized. This will generally take 10 to 14 days.

After each soak, either vaseline or other prescribed ointment, should be liberally applied to the treated areas. Do not pick or otherwise remove crusted areas. Do not allow the treated areas to dry out or scab over.

It is not uncommon to experience some itching as the treated skin heals. This commonly occurs between 5 to 7 days. Hydrocortisone cream may be applied to the itchy areas before applying the ointment. You may also use benadryl to ease the itch (follow product instructions). Note that benadryl will cause sedation. It should generally not be used at the same time as sleeping pills or pain pills. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist. It is not unusual for patients to get itchy at night while they are sleeping. This can cause scratch marks on the healing skin that will slow healing. Wearing bulky mittens (with no finger pockets) to bed may decrease this problem.

Sleep with the head elevated for 3 weeks after surgery.

Between 2 weeks and 2 months after the surgery, it is not uncommon to note the presence of what look like white heads on the treated areas. These are, in fact, milia. They represent areas where fresh epithelium has overgrown the underlying glands. They may be gently scrubbed and removed. If you are having trouble removing them, we will be happy to help you in the office.

You should do no vigorous exercise and should avoid any significant physical exertion, lifting or straining for a minimum of 2 weeks after your surgery, as this activity could disrupt your wound healing. Plan on taking it easy.

Do not rub or massage your face until after you are examined and told it is all right to do so. Likewise, do not wear make-up until your surgeon says that it is all right to do so. Generally, you will be able to cover the treated areas with make-up within 10 to 14 days. At this time the skin will be fully resurfaced (no weeping, blistering or breaks in the skin) and soaks will no longer be necessary. You will find that make-up is somewhat more difficult to apply to the treated areas. They are, in fact, so smooth, that the make-up will often almost slide off. We will suggest certain products if you are having this problem

Contact lenses should not be worn for the first 10 to 14 days if dermabrasion has been carried out on the cheeks or on the forehead, as placing them into your eye may put some strain on your healing face.

You should avoid the sun and use a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 for six months after dermabrasion. Sun exposure may lead to hyperpigmentation or excess darkening of the treated areas. Although, this is generally treatable with pigment gels, they may take a while to work. Therefore, avoid the sun if at all possible. Broad rimmed hats are also quite useful in this regard.

Your skin will be bright red after the procedure. This is to be expected. The redness will gradually fade and begin to return to a more normal color around the third week after surgery. However, some residual pink or light red color will persist for 6 to 12 weeks. The length of time it will take for a complete return to normal coloration is variable. Generally, persons with red hair or freckles will be red for somewhat longer periods of time than other people.

Retin-A, Glycolics and Vitamin C preparations should not be used after the surgery until you are told byDr. Ducic that it is all right to do so. Generally, you should start back on this regimen 4 to 6 weeks after the surgery if it is deemed suitable for your skin type. Restarting these products should be a gradual process. The Retin-A should be started first and used alone for 2 weeks. Then, the Glycolics should be added 2 weeks later. Finally, the Vitamin C preparation is added a further 2 weeks after that. Using this skin care regimen will enhance the surgical results in some patients, and help restore damaged skin.

You will notice that the treated skin looks smoother at 2 to 3 weeks after the surgery. It will look even better in a few months as the effects of the dermabrasion act to slowly tighten the skin’s collagen.

RECOVERY TIMETABLE

DAY 2Maximum bruising and swelling, start soaks with diluted vinegar. Apply ointment after soaks. Repeat 6 times per day.DAY 5-7Bruising starting to go away. Skin is being resurfaced. Discomfort much less. May start to itch (Use Hydrocortisone cream and benadryl).

DAY 10-14Usually the skin is fully resurfaced by now. May stop using soaks and may start using make-up (once told by Dr. Ducic).WEEK 6-12Redness usually faded by now.

3 MONTHSEnjoy your result and avoid the sun if at all possible. You should be back on Retin-A, Gylcolic Acid and the Vitamin C preparation if required for your skin type.

REMEMBER: If you have any concerns or questions, please contact our office any time. Our office should be a source of information and reassurance throughout the entire period from the time of your first consultation and continuing after your surgery.